Ian Bishop Archives

Ian Bishop questions Mohammad Haris’ demotion in batting order

LAUDERHILL: Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop was left surprised by Pakistan’s decision to send Mohammad Haris down the order during the first T20I at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground on Friday.

Haris only got to face one ball, the final delivery of the innings, but made it count with a towering six to close out Pakistan’s total on a high.

While on commentary, Bishop lauded the wicketkeeper-batter’s clean hit but questioned the logic behind his late entry.

“Mohammad Haris! He does this sort of thing. I’m surprised he has come in so late,” Bishop remarked.

The 24-year-old is usually slotted in at No. 3, a position where he has previously delivered explosive performances, most notably in the home series against Bangladesh earlier this year.

Mohammad Haris was Pakistan’s top scorer in that series with 179 runs in three games, including a brutal 107* off 46 balls laced with eight fours and seven sixes.

However, his recent form in the away series against Bangladesh saw a dip, managing just nine runs in three matches.

For the unversed, after being sent in to bat, Pakistan put up 178-6 in their 20 overs against the West Indies, a total built largely on Saim Ayub’s classy knock.

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The left-hander struck his second T20I fifty, scoring a fluent 57 off 38 with five fours and two sixes.

His 81-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman (28 off 24) laid the foundation after Sahibzada Farhan (14) fell early to a sharp Shamar Joseph delivery.

Saim Ayub brought up his fifty in style before being removed by Holder in the 12th over. Fakhar soon followed, and the innings briefly stuttered.

Hassan Nawaz added a quick 24 off 18, while Faheem Ashraf (16 off 9), skipper Salman Ali Agha (11* off 7), and Mohammad Haris (6*) ensured a strong finish.

For the West Indies, Joseph impressed with 3-30, while Holder, Hosein, and Shepherd claimed one wicket each.

Defending 179, Pakistan restricted the hosts to 164-7, thanks to Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub’s tidy bowling.

The second T20I between Pakistan and the West Indies will be played at the same venue on 3 August.

READ: Salman Ali Agha lauds team effort after first T20I win over West Indies

Ian Bishop praises Shaheen Afridi, calls him ‘Baby Starc’

The Caribbean great Ian Bishop made an interesting comparison between Pakistan’s premier left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Australia’s Mitchell Starc during the recently concluded third Test between Australia and the West Indies.

Bishop, speaking in commentary, referred to Shaheen as a “Baby Starc,” praising his knack for attacking the stumps in a style reminiscent of the Aussie spearhead, who had just ripped through the West Indies lineup with a blistering five-wicket haul in just 15 deliveries.

“It’s well known with Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi, at his best, watch and guard your stumps,” said Bishop, highlighting how both pacers pose a consistent threat with the new ball by targeting the base of the wickets.

The veteran broadcaster also paid homage to legends of the past, including Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, and Courtney Walsh, crediting their relentless accuracy and discipline for the havoc they caused across generations.

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“McGrath terrorised batters around the world by hitting that perfect length again and again. Ambrose and Walsh did it too, and now you see Josh Hazlewood following that method,” Ian Bishop added.

“But then there’s Shaheen Afridi, the rising star. I thought he was baby Starc at his fittest. A different style, but the same intent.”

Shaheen has built an impressive resume since making his international debut against the West Indies in 2018.

Across formats, the left-armer has already claimed 345 international wickets, including seven five-fors, and continues to be a central figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack.

His standout 2021 campaign earned him the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, with his match-winning spells in the T20 World Cup that year.

READ: Pakistan T20I squad departs for Bangladesh in two groups

‘He’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs’: Ian Bishop backs THIS batter for Pakistan return

Former West Indies pacer and renowned commentator Ian Bishop has heaped high praise on young Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris, backing him to make his return to international cricket.

The young batter’s name came into the discussion after Pakistan, who entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as defending champions, crashed out of the eight-team event in the group stage following defeats against New Zealand and India.

During yesterday’s clash between England and Afghanistan, commentators Ian Bishop, Nasser Hussain, and Ian Smith were discussing Pakistan’s disastrous performance in the tournament and the way forward for the Green Shirts.

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“They’ve got some good young fast bowlers around this country. Really good bowlers; they have to groom them well. There’s hope, there is talent,” Bishop said.

Nasser Hussain pointed out that the injuries to opening batters Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman dealt a substantial blow to the host team. Their absence not only affects the team’s batting strength but also disrupts the overall lineup and strategy.

In response, Bishop underscored the importance of having depth in the squad while mentioning Mohammad Haris for his remarkable ability to accelerate the scoring rate.

“Even on that, Nasser, it’s strength in depth,” said Bishop. “That’s what New Zealand have going for them, for example, very well.”

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“It’s what India have going for them very well. There’s a young man called Mohammad Haris around Pakistan here, who I think…he’s inconsistent, but he’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs.”

For the unversed, Haris has represented Pakistan in six ODIs and nine T20Is since making his international debut in 2022. Although he played valuable cameos during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, his overall stats paint a dismal picture.

The 23-year-old batter has scored 30 runs in six ODIs and 126 runs in nine T20Is at meagre averages of 7.5 and 14, respectively.

READ: Rain forces covers on Rawalpindi pitch ahead of Pakistan-Bangladesh clash

‘Babar has almost overtaken Kohli as ultimate ODI batter’ claims Bishop

KARACHI: Former West Indian cricketer and commentator Ian Bishop claimed that Babar Azam has almost surpassed Indian star batter, Virat Kohli, as ‘the ultimate uber fifty-over batter’.

Bishop praised Pakistan national team skipper for his consistent performance and record-breaking form in the limited-over cricket as he currently leads both ODI and T20I batters’ rankings.

“Babar Azam is on the road to greatness,(…)in the white-ball cricket and certainly in fifty overs,” claimed Bishop during a conversation with Cricwick.com.

Bishop further went on to compare Babar’s brilliance in the ODIs with Indian Ex-captain and eminent batter Kohli, while claiming that Pakistan’s captain has nearly overtaken the latter’s greatness in the ODI cricket.

“His average, as we speak now, (is) on the cusp on 60 with 17 ODI hundreds. He has almost overtaken his next-door neighbor, the great Virat Kohli, in terms of the ultimate uber 50-over batter,” he declared.

Former West Indies bowler also opined on Babar’s performance in Test cricket and hoped that he would soon excel himself in the longer format as well.

“His Test cricket is a work in progress. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken to Test cricket numbers a lot earlier. He’s starting to get better at it. Technically, he’s superb”, said Bishop.

“In future, I’m hoping he will be mentioned in the same breath in Test cricket as the top 3-4 players,” he concluded.

Bishop had also included Babar Azam in his recently announced all-time Pakistan XI.

It is pertinent to mention here that the top-ranked ODI batter Babar was named as the ICC ODI Men’s player of the year 2021 following his incredible run in the limited-overs format. He also became the first batter to score three consecutive ODI centuries twice.

READ: Jamie Overton earns maiden Test call-up for Headingley Test

Bishop feels happy for Haider’s inclusion in Pakistan’s T20 WC squad

KARACHI: Former West Indian cricketer and currently a commentator, Ian Bishop put weight on Haider Ali’s inclusion in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.

Taking to Twitter, Bishop wrote that he was happy to see Haider’s selection in Pakistan’s squad for the mega event. “Happy for Haider Ali. I hope he makes the best use of the opportunity. Please!!!” he wrote.

Happy for Haider Ali. I hope he makes best use of the opportunity. PLEASE!!!

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 8, 2021

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (captain, Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain, Northern), Asif Ali (Northern), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imad Wasim (Northern), Mohammad Hafeez (Central Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper, Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Shoaib Malik (Central Punjab)

Traveling reserves – Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab)

Player Support Personnel: Mansoor Rana (manager), Saqlain Mushtaq (interim head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Matthew Hayden (batting consultant), Vernon Philander (bowling consultant), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Talha Ejaz (team analyst), Col (retd) Muhammad Imran (Security Manager), Ibrahim Badees (media and digital manager), Dr Najeeb Soomro (team doctor) and Malang Ali (Masseur)